Diotimos Library · Renaissance Collection · Bilingual Edition
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
The 1599 German text with a new English translation, introduction, glossary, and notes.
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Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 78
Early New High German
p. 78gung / in durchscheinendes klares Wasser möchten verkehret worden sein / seind dannoch auch nicht MATEria Argenti vel Auri SPECIFICata, multò minus Metallorum omnium CATHOLica siue VNIVERSalis, PRIma; noch die daraus jetzo angedeuteten præparirten Soluta, Jre liquores pri - materiales; Sondern von Primaterialischen stande, albereit zimlich weit abgeschrittene Metallische Embryones oder vnzeitige gebürtē! vnd die Liquores daraus / solcher Embryonum vn-Primaterialische soluta; Welche beyderley / deswegen / der Reduction in MATERiam PRImam, per MATERIam PRIMam, gleich so wol als die zeitigen vnd gantz volkommenen Metallische früchte / auch noch bedörffen: Dahero dann / dieweil sie nicht seind weder der Metallen ALGEMEINE / noch des
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum: Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum
p. 78-cation, been turned into transparent clear Water, are nevertheless still not the SPECIFIED MATTER of Silver or of Gold — much less the CATHOLIC or VNIVERSAL FIRST Matter of all Metals; nor are the prepared Dissolved things now intimated, drawn from them, their pri-material liquors; but rather Metallic Embryos, already gone a good way off from the Pri-material state — or untimely births! — and the Liquors out of them, the un-Primaterial dissolved things of such Embryos. Both of which, for that reason, still need Reduction into THE FIRST MATTER, through THE FIRST MATTER, just as much as do the ripe and wholly perfect Metallic fruits. Whence then, since they are neither the Metals’ UNIVERSAL, nor the
Socrates
Reading Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum · Printed Page 78
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Socrates will begin with this book and its sources.About This Reading Edition
Heinrich Khunrath’s Magnesia Catholica Philosophorum argues that alchemy has one universal subject, that this subject cannot be extracted from the metals, and that nothing in the work can begin without recognizing it. This complete reader begins with the supplied seven-part introduction and orientation, then presents every printed page of the 1599 German treatise opposite its new English translation.
Historical Text and Translation
The German reading text is a fresh diplomatic transcription from 600 dpi images of the Magdeburg copy printed by Johann Bötcher in 1599. It preserves Khunrath’s capitalization, word division, authorial marginal keys, glosses, errata, and three unnumbered closing pages: the errata leaf, owl emblem, and colophon.
About Diotimos Editions
Diotimos Editions prepared the new English translation, introduction, notes, glossary, collation, and editorial apparatus. The translation follows Khunrath directly, retaining his technical vocabulary, changes of register, repetitions, rhetorical questions, and distinctions between German, Latin, and coined terms.
Rights
Heinrich Khunrath’s 1599 German work is in the public domain. The 2026 English translation, introduction, notes, glossary, editorial arrangement, and related matter are original to this edition and remain © 2026 Diotimos.